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Rights and Freedoms
30 May 2024Media ReleaseGovernment must seize the moment for a National Human Rights Act
A new parliamentary report recommending a National Human Rights Act as part of a revitalised Human Rights Framework brings Australia closer than ever before to establishing the basic legal protections that Australians need. The report, tabled in Federal Parliament today, includes an example of legislation for a National Human Rights Act, building on decades of work and reinforcing… -
Rights and Freedoms
2 May 2024Media Release
Michael Kirby and Jennifer Robinson to deliver joint keynote address at landmark human rights forum
Two of Australia’s most famous legal eagles are set to team up to prosecute the case for an Australian Human Rights Act at an historic two-day forum in June during the Vivid Sydney festival. Eminent international jurist and former High Court judge Michael Kirby and leading international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson (who represents Julian Assange) will tag team at the Free + Equal… -
Children's Rights
20 August 2024Media ReleaseNew report proposes transforming Australia’s approach to child justice and wellbeing
In a major new report, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner is calling for significant changes to how our federal, state and territory governments approach child justice and the wellbeing of children who are or who are at risk of being caught up in the criminal justice system. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
19 April 2024News story
Inspection report: “serious concerns” at Yongah Hill Detention Centre
An inspection report by the Australian Human Rights Commission has found that a high-security immigration detention centre in Western Australia was, in part, “no longer fit for purpose”, and raised serious concerns over safety conditions and the level of care for detainees and staff. The Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Inspection Report followed a two-day inspection of the adult… -
6 February 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-10
The complainant works as a software support officer at the respondent company. He said that his son has a learning disability, asthma and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and needs a lot of one-to-one support and tuition. He alleged the company denied his request for a small reduction in working hours a few days a week to enable him to attend appointments and that a manager told… -
Sex Discrimination
16 April 2024News storySex Discrimination Commissioner: Lehrmann ruling dispels rape myths
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Cody commended the Federal Court’s decision in the Lehrmann case for challenging misconceptions about rape and consent. -
Commission – General
2 July 2024SpeechOccasional Address — University of New South Wales graduation
Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM Chancellor, David Gonski AC, Dean, Professor George Williams AO, distinguished guests, graduating students and families. Graduations are such a special moment— not just in a university calendar, but also in your lives. It is significant that this occurs on the winter solstice: the day when the sun stands still. In its Latin, ‘solstitium’, became … -
Race Discrimination
13 March 2024SpeechCoca-Cola Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit
I am the full-stop, the exclamation mark and the question mark. The vision of this summit is that “It’s not about changing the player, it’s about changing the field they are play on.” We have heard about the business case, the moral case and the human rights case. This December is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, marking the day, on 10 December 1948, when… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
27 March 2024Media ReleaseCommissioner June Oscar welcomes Institute funding
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar welcomed the Commonwealth’s funding of the new Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice at the Australian National University. The Institute is the first of its kind in the world and will bring together First Nations researchers to develop and design initiatives to improve outcomes for… -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery For a start, thank you Julia, Dr Baird for that wonderful MC-ing of the day. What an array of fantastic insights! I said at the beginning that it would be challenging, insightful and exciting and I'm sure that, from my perspective, it's been every one of those things… -
1 February 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-06
The complainant has an acquired brain injury and was employed as a service officer in a government agency. The complainant said he advised the agency of his disability when he applied for the role and requested reasonable adjustments to accommodate his disability, particularly extra time to process information. He alleged the agency took over four months to provide him with adjustments and… -
Age Discrimination
25 June 2024News story
Retirement village operators urged to improve elder abuse protections
The Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM, has called on Australia’s retirement living sector to introduce new nationwide strategies to better identify and respond to the abuse of residents. Elder abuse affects one in six older Australians, including those living in retirement villages. The abuse can take many forms, including neglect, financial exploitation, physical… -
6 February 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-14
The complainant was employed on a casual basis as a driver for a goods transport company. She alleged that when her partner told the operations manager that she was pregnant, he said words to the effect that "we can't have pregnant chicks working here" and she was not offered any more work. The company denied that the alleged statement was made and said the complainant was not offered work… -
Complaint Information Service25 January 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-02
The complainant has memory loss. He said he sought to import his mobile phone number with the respondent telecommunications provider to a different provider. He said he was unsuccessful because personal information held by the two providers did not match. The complainant alleged that when he contacted the respondent to address the issue, he was required to answer a number of personal… -
9 May 2024Conciliation register
2021-06-02
The complainant is Aboriginal and has post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabilities. He was placed with the respondent cleaning company by a disability employment service. He claimed he was triggered by a workplace incident where he was accidentally locked in a room for a time. He said he asked to always work with a 'buddy ' but this request was denied. He said his employment was -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 March 2024Media Release
Commission welcomes new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the appointment of Katie Kiss as the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Ms Kiss is a proud Kaanju and Birri/Widi woman who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland on the lands of the Darumbal People. She is currently the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path… -
Commission – General
22 March 2024Speech
AALA Harmony Day and IWD
Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL Acknowledgements [Thank you to Clayton Utz and to Dora Cheung, AALA] Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and pay my respect to Elders, past, present and emerging. I was invited to this event to celebrate Harmony Day, and also to connect the recent celebration… -
Children's Rights
13 February 2024Media Release
AHRC welcomes announcement of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that a new position will be created for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner. Advocates and peak bodies representing Australia’s First Nations children have long sought a National Commissioner to promote the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children… -
9 May 2024Conciliation register
2021-06-06
The complainant has psychosocial disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, and has an assistance dog. The complainant owned an apartment and alleged the body corporate did not recognise his dog as an assistance animal. He said the body corporate’s newsletter said only guide dogs would be permitted to access communal areas. The complainant alleged the on… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 May 2023Media Release
First Nations women respond to Banksia Hill riots with call for immediate reform to youth justice
First Nations female leaders from across Australia are demanding immediate reform to Western Australia’s approach to youth justice in the wake of today’s riots at the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. Hundreds of First Nations women are attending the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit in Canberra this week, including Commissioner for Children and Young People WA Jacqueline McGowan…